Social Media Usage among Dental Undergraduate Students—A Comparative Study

Social media use among students has infiltrated into dental education and offers benefits but may also cause problems. The aim of this study was to explore and compare current social media usage among dental undergraduate students from two countries—Malaysia and Finland. A self-administered structured online questionnaire was used. WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat were the services that were most familiar to the respondents from both countries. There were differences between the students from the two countries among the most preferred platforms. The most frequently used applications were WhatsApp (91.1% of students in Malaysia and 96.1% in Finland used it very frequently) and Instagram (74.3% of students in Malaysia and 70.0% in Finland used it very frequently). Students in Malaysia spent significantly more hours per week using the platforms as study tools than students in Finland. Over 80% of the Finnish dental students reported that lack of knowledge was not an issue in social media usage, while 85% of Malaysian students felt that lack of knowledge prevented them from using social media platforms frequently. The findings offer evidence that dental students used social media extensively.

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THE IMPACTS OF FIRM CHARACTERISTICS ON SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE OF SMEs: EVIDENCE FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Knowledge ◽

10.37335/ijek.v8i1.111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 102-113

Author(s):

Jan Žufan ◽

Mehmet Civelek ◽

Iveta Hamarneh ◽

Ľubomír Kmeco

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Lower Amount ◽

Firm Characteristics ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Media Usage ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Statistical Program ◽

Media Channels ◽

The Cost

Comparing to larger businesses, SMEs face more barriers in their marketing operations since they have a lower amount of financial resources and assets. But the emergence of social media platforms has provided many chances for them to overcome these barriers by enabling them to do marketing and promotion activities. Although these social media channels are easy to access by each of their users, awareness, perceptions, capabilities of SMEs might differ when using these platforms. In this regard, this research aims to analyze and find out whether social media usage differs among SMEs regarding their age and size. In parallel with this purpose, the researchers used an online questionnaire to collect data from 454 Czech SMEs. These SMEs were selected by applying a random sampling method and then an online questionnaire was directed to the respondents who were owners and managers of these enterprises. To analyze the data, the researchers performed an Independent T-test in SPSS statistical program. According to the results, social media usage does not differ between smaller-larger and younger-older SMEs. The reasons for these similarities among SMEs might stem from the industry that they operate, the cost of social media usage, and the age of younger firms’ executives. Nonexistence of the differences among analyzed Czech SMEs makes this paper differ from other studies. Some policy implementations are also offered by the researchers to increase awareness, skills, and usage of social media platforms by SMEs.

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0197 Chronotype is Influenced by Behavioral Choices and Can Fluctuate Across the Semester in STEM Students

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.195 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A77-A78

Author(s):

A Porro ◽

T Luster ◽

C Gao ◽

C George ◽

M Parizi-Robinson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Media Use ◽

Sleep Hygiene ◽

Subjective Health ◽

Caffeine Consumption ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Media Usage ◽

Behavioral Choices

Abstract Introduction A delay in endogenous biological rhythms is assumed to cause undergraduate students to be “night owls,” but neurodevelopmental effects may only partially explain chronotype (circadian preference). Instead, perceived chronotype in students may result from poor sleep hygiene practices including bedtime social media use, afternoon caffeine consumption, and daytime napping. If so, then chronotype should be malleable in students to the extent that behavioral choices change. Methods We surveyed 1,120 undergraduate students who were enrolled in STEM courses across up to 3 time points during the semester. The survey assessed perceived chronotype (morning/evening type), global sleep quality, and daily habits that impact alertness and sleep hygiene (e.g., social media usage and timing, caffeine consumption and timing, and napping behavior). Results Relative to Morning Types, students who perceived themselves as being Evening Types showed 23.1% greater bedtime social media usage (t=3.14, p=.002), 35.1% greater daytime napping duration (t=4.44, p<.001), and a 44 minute later average time of caffeine consumption (even though total caffeine consumption was reduced; t=2.30, p=.022). Evening Types also reported lower subjective health (t=3.55, p<.001), with 14.2% of the association between chronotype and subjective health being mediated by bedtime social media use (direct effect: b=0.050, p=.002; indirect effect: b=0.009, p<.05). Ninety-one students reported switching from being Evening Types at baseline to Morning Types at a later survey; those who switched to Morning Types used less social media and consumed less caffeine after 5pm and they showed significant improvements across the semester in sleep duration, sleep quality, and exam scores (ps<.05). Conclusion Perceived chronotype is related to social media and caffeine consumption behaviors and is modifiable. Students who perceive themselves as night owls may find better health and academic success if they behave like morning larks. Support National Science Foundation (DRL 1920730)

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Affective polarization in the digital age: Testing the direction of the relationship between social media and users’ feelings for out-group parties

New Media & Society ◽

10.1177/14614448211044393 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 146144482110443

Author(s):

Maria Nordbrandt

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Panel Data ◽

Media Use ◽

Digital Age ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Media Usage ◽

Previous Level ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Relationship

There is considerable disagreement among scholars as to whether social media fuels polarization in society. However, a few have considered the possibility that polarization may instead affect social media usage. To address this gap, the study uses Dutch panel data to test directionality in the relationship between social media use and affective polarization. No support was found for the hypothesis that social media use contributed to the level of affective polarization. Instead, the results lend support to the hypothesis that it was the level of affective polarization that affected subsequent use of social media. The results furthermore reveal heterogeneous patterns among individuals, depending on their previous level of social media usage, and across different social media platforms. The study gives reason to call into question the predominating assumption in previous research that social media is a major driver of polarization in society.

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A cross-sectional survey of Social Media Anxiety among students of University of Nigeria

10.1101/666701 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Deborah O. Aluh ◽

Thelma Chukwuobasi ◽

Adaobi U. Mosanya

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

University Students ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Media Usage ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Use Of Social Media

AbstractBackgroundSocial anxiety is one of the most prevalent and disabling anxiety disorders with lifetime prevalence rates ranging from 2 to 16% s in different populations. Considering the rising use of social media among university students, it is necessary to assess their social anxiety as a result of the use of social media platforms since social anxiety can affect social interaction in social mediaMethodsThe current study employed a cross-sectional descriptive approach and was carried out among undergraduate students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The Social Anxiety Scale for Social Media Users (SAS-SMU) which is a data collection tool to assess levels of social anxiety experienced by university students while using social media platforms was used in the current study. Data were analyzed with IBM Statistical Products and Service Solutions (SPSS) for Windows, Version 20.0.ResultsA total of 228 out of the 380 questionnaires distributed were filled and returned (60% response rate). Social media usage was highest for WhatsApp (4.4±0.902) and Facebook (3.3±1.055). Social media anxiety was higher in females (69.00±12.59) than males (68.42±12.06) although this difference did not reach statistical significance (t = −0.356, p = 0.864). Social media usage was higher in females (35.02±5.04) than males (34.58±6.01) but the difference did not reach statistical significance (t = −0.603, p = 0.314). There was a non-significant negative association between Social media usage and social media anxiety (r = –0.051, p = 0.4450). More than half of the students (55.7%, n = 127) had social media anxiety.ConclusionIn conclusion, there was a negative non-significant correlation between social media usage and social anxiety. Investigations regarding social anxiety in social media are scarce from low and middle income countries and this is the first from an African country.

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Anxiety among dental professionals and its association with their dependency on social media for health information: insights from the COVID-19 pandemic

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-020-00509-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Suhail H. Al-Amad ◽

Amal Hussein

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Health Information ◽

Media Use ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

General Anxiety Disorder ◽

General Anxiety ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Social media can play a detrimental role during a global health emergency. In this study, we aimed at assessing the impact social media has on the anxiety level of dental healthcare workers (DHCWs) whilst living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An online questionnaire was disseminated to a cross-sectional sample of DHCWs from 19 countries using social media platforms. The questionnaire enquired about DHCWs’ frequency of using social media and their dependency on health-related information posted on those platforms. Anxiety was measured using General Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). Results Four-hundred and three (403) DHCWs completed the online questionnaire. Sixty-eight percent (68%) frequently use social media for information on COVID-19. The frequency of social media use was higher among younger DHCWs, with shorter clinical experience, and holders of undergraduate qualifications (p = 0.009, p = 0.002, and p = 0.023, respectively). Almost one third of DHCWs had moderate to severe anxiety (31.7%), which was significantly associated with the frequency of social media use (p = 0.016). This association was adjusted for age, years of experience and qualification level (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.05–2.93; p = 0.032). Conclusion COVID-19 social media infodemic has been adversely impacting the psychological wellbeing of DHCWs. More effective measures are needed to control the quality and spreadability of health information on social media platforms.

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Self-Representation in Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

European Journal of Social Sciences ◽

10.26417/647zjq37m ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 113

Author(s):

Alexandra Valéria Sándor

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Mass Communication ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Media Usage ◽

Cultural Boundaries ◽

Photo Sharing ◽

Usage Patterns ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Use Of Social Media

Over the past 15 years, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, influencing both our informal interactions and professional discourses as well as their structure. From this, one can conclude that social media has its own logic, which includes special norms, strategies and mechanisms (van Dijck - Poell, 2013). Therefore, it is not surprising that many of the changes affecting society today have been instigated by the use of social media. Two fundamental features of social media are its ability to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries and the role that recipients play when posts are shared, as opposed to traditional models of mass communication. Consequently, these features have led to the rise of the ‘infodemic’, a term that describes the excessive spread of information and can be used specifically to refer to the dissemination of information about the COVID-19 pandemic on social media platforms (Cinelli et al., 2020). The present study aims to provide a snapshot of how self-representation on social media platforms has changed among Hungarian users during the lockdown period of COVID-19, supported by a brief literature review about the pandemic and its effects on mental health and tested using an online questionnaire to gain deeper insight into social media usage patterns. According to the results of the questionnaire, social media usage and self-representation in social media posts became more frequent during the lockdown. Additionally, symptoms of major depression were more likely among those who shared photos of themselves or their close relations ‘daily’ or ‘multiple times a day’ on Messenger, where the frequency of photo-sharing increased the most.

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Getting the Most out of Social Media: Strategic Practices When Using Social Media

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-wc223-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Caroline R. Warwick ◽

Lauri M. Baker ◽

Jessica C. Fernandez ◽

Joy Rumble

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Agricultural Education ◽

Media Use ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Media Usage ◽

Minor Revision ◽

Social Media Platforms

This EDIS publication is designed for Florida professionals, agriculturalists, organizations, and producers looking to develop a better understanding of social media platforms and get the most out of their social media usage. This publication specifically focuses on 15 practices for strategic social media use. Minor revision by Caroline R. Warwick, Lauri M. Baker, Jessica C. Fernandez, and Joy N. Rumble; published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication; 3 pp.

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Jumping the digital divide: How do “silver surfers” and “digital immigrants” use social media?

Networking Knowledge: Journal of the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network ◽

10.31165/nk.2017.101.494 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 5-26

Author(s):

Kaja Fietkiewicz

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Digital Divide ◽

Generational Differences ◽

New Technologies ◽

Digital Immigrants ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Media Usage ◽

Media Services ◽

Long Time ◽

Social Media Platforms

For a long time, a digital divide was given between young Web users and older population, which out of anxiety or incapability restrained from using the new technologies. Recently, the so-called “Silver Surfers” and “Digital Immigrants” tend to use the Web not only for sending emails but also increasingly for socializing on social media services (e.g., Kübler 2009; Frees & Koch 2015). This paper aims to discuss the differences in use and adoption of social media platforms between different generations. An online questionnaire was created and distributed among social media users of all ages. The results indicate that the older generations represented a not insignificant part of social media community. They often use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family, some apply Twitter and are fond of new followers and many re-tweets, and others just enjoy new videos on YouTube. There indeed appear to exist inter-generational differences in social media usage. In addition, data analysis leads to the conclusion that there are intra-generational gender-dependent particularities as well.

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Social Media Use and Students’ Health-Lifestyle Modification in University of Calabar, Nigeria

European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies ◽

10.26417/ejis.v5i1.p47-54 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 47

Author(s):

Ntongha Eni Ikpi ◽

Veronica Akwenabuaye Undelikwo

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Media Use ◽

Survey Design ◽

Health Sector ◽

Positive Health ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Health Lifestyle ◽

Use Of Social Media

The use of social media platforms has over the years become a veritable tool for individuals, groups, institutions and corporate bodies for the promotion of health and wellness. In recent times, social media has become one of the most potent agents of the media through which health issues are addressed as well as generated and disseminated to different populations in society. The study was conducted to examine social media use and students’ health lifestyle modification in the University of Calabar, Nigeria. It sought to determine the extent to which students’ use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp) influences the modification of their health-related lifestyles such as eating habits, sexual behaviour, cigarette and alcohol consumption, drug use and the engagement in fitness activities. The study adopted a randomized descriptive survey design and used a sample of 300 undergraduate students. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for collection of data while simple percentages and means were used to determine the difference between the expected mean of 2.50 and the observed means across various items in the questionnaire. The results showed that apart from Twitter, social media use by University of Calabar students has significantly influenced the modification of their health lifestyles. Since social media has become a veritable tool for the promotion of positive health lifestyle, effort should be made by government through the health sector to create more awareness among students and the entire population of social media users, on the health benefits accruing from use of social media.

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Physical Distancing and Social Media Use in Emerging and Older Adults During COVID-19: Large Scale Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Survey Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33713 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Thabo J van Woudenberg ◽

Roy Hendrikx ◽

Moniek Buijzen ◽

Julia CM van Weert ◽

Bas van den Putte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Media ◽

Emerging Adults ◽

Large Scale ◽

Media Use ◽

Longitudinal Survey ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Random Intercept ◽

Social Media Platforms

BACKGROUND Although emerging adults play a role in the spread of COVID-19, they are less likely to develop severe symptoms after infection. Emerging adults’ relatively high use of social media as source of information raises concerns regarding COVID-19 related behavioral compliance (i.e., physical distancing) in this age group. OBJECTIVE Therefore, the current study investigated physical distancing in emerging adults in comparison to older adults and looked at the role of using social media for COVID-19 news and information in this regard. In addition, this study explored the relation between physical distancing and different social media platforms and sources. METHODS Secondary data of a large-scale national longitudinal survey (N = 123,848, 34.% male) between April and November 2020 were used. Participants indicated, ranging for one to eight waves, how often they were successful in keeping 1.5 meters distance on a 7-point Likert scale. Participants between 18 and 24 years old were considered young adults and older participants were identified as older adults. Also, a dummy variable was created to indicate per wave whether participants used social media for COVID-19 news and information. A subset received follow-up questions asking participants to indicate which platforms they have used and what sources of news and information they had seen on social media. All preregistered hypotheses were tested with Linear Mixed-Effects Models and Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models. RESULTS Emerging adults reported less physical distancing behaviors than older adults (b = -.08, t(86213.83) = -26.79, p < .001). Also, emerging adults were more likely to use social media for COVID-19 news and information (b = 2.48, SE = .11, Wald = 23.66, p = <.001), which mediated the association with physical distancing, but only to a small extend (indirect effect: b = -0.03, 95% CI = [-0.04; -0.02]). Opposed to our hypothesis, the longitudinal Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model showed no evidence that physical distancing was predicted by social media use of the previous wave. However, we did find evidence that using social media affected subsequent physical distancing behavior. Moreover, additional analyses showed that most social media platforms (i.e., YouTube, Facebook and Instagram) and interpersonal communication showed negative associations with physical distancing while others platforms (i.e. LinkedIn and Twitter) and Governmental messages showed no to a slightly positive associations with physical distancing. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we should be vigilant for physical distancing of emerging adults, but this study give no reason the to worry about the role of social media for COVID-19 news and information. However, as some social media platforms and sources showed negative associations, future studies should more carefully look into these factors to better understand the associations between social media use for news and information, and behavioral interventions in times of crisis.

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